Burglar and like alarm system



SYDNEY GEGBGE ADAMS, OF LEVlISIl-'HVL ENGLAND.

BURGLAE? ND LIKE ALARM SYSTEIiI.

Application filed May 1, 1922. Serial'llo. 557,529.

Be it lnou'n z i ADAMS, a subject oi: l oi2 England and reen the county ot Londoin have invented certain neviv and .i

movements lin or Corrected with and like i-rlarin Systems, oi? .vhi 1 lon/'ing is a specification.

rlhis invention relates to hurgjlar and like alarm systems.

The invention has llor its primary object Yto p'ovioe improved7 simple and efhcient alarm system for adaptation io any existing or suitable telephone systeni, and designed for the protection of houses7 offices and other premises particularly against hurglars, and whereby the entry into the houses or other premises by unauthorized persons is immediately, silently automatically and secretly! notified the telephone exchange7 thus enahlingv the operator to communicate With the police. The improv-d system is oi' such a nature that any type oit electrical alarm con* tacts, any suitable `itorm oi tivo-position suit-ch or similar control device, and any kind of telephone installation existing` on the premises can he adopted and utilized for the purposes oi carrying; out the invention.

Another object ci' the invent-ion is to provide an alarm system which is ot such arrangement v that 'false alarms will not he given when short-circuitinr occurs in the telephone system or installatioin and Whereby any ditliculties regarding; the proper operation ot' the. alarm system, and consequent upon the varyiini` lines of closing of a lock-up shop or other premises7 are entirely overcome. v

Accoreing to one vfeature oi the invention the improve l alarm system comprises a twoposit-ion switch or similar mein control device disposed on `the premises to he protected, a d interposed hetiveen electrical. alarm contacts or devices iitted at a. door or at one or more other positions on said premisesor at allot them, an ordinary and eX istingf telephone instrument installed on the premises, and thetelephone exchange, all withoutV any alteration 0r addition t0 the apparatus already existing at said exchange7 the 'arrangement being such, that When the switch yis placed in one ci' its positions hy thesubscriher the alarm'contacts or devices the tolare in condition 'l'or operation and are connected to the exchange with a normally open circuit, the telephone instrument being :Shed out ci circuit with the excl'iangeT or devices are and Vwhen said alarm contr: operated they close the circuit to the en@ clninge and ,ause an audible or visual signal to he given at the latter. Y

Another feature oi" the invention consists in that electrical or meclianizal circuit closin;` and signallino` devices niy he intcrposed in tl e circuit between the telephone exchange and trie alarm contacts or devices and he designed to he automatically actuated and to give signa-l at iid exchange when sa lilarm contacts or 'icrs hccoinc operative7 said signal heine; of such a nature that it is easilyT distinguished 'trom that received at the exchange should a cshort occur in the circuit, or :trom any ordinaryY ring` or call. I Yet'another 'feature of the invention consists in that, it' desired and in the case ot lock-up premises? means may he provided at the main or iront entrance of the premises wherebyy the circuit through the alarm contacts or devices can he controlled and closed and opened oy an authorized person icav or Igaininpr access to the premises.

The invention will nou' he descrihcd with reiterenre to thc accompanyinndiagramnatic drawings in Which2- Y Figure l illustrates a suitable manner o1 carrying` out the invention, and shows the sivitch in posit-ion for connecting the `telephone to the exchange,AA

Figure 2 shows the switch in position ior connecting the alarm c atacts or dcv to the exchangeq Figure 3 indicates the system :iler with the exchange and a police, lire or other station telephone Figure `/l- 'illustrates a modilied methcul oi -arryingr out the invention.

ln both of the arrangements like parts are designated hy snnilar reference numerthe subscribers telephone instrument 10 on the premises, and the other two terminals, 11 and 12, to the main lines 13 to the telephone exchange 1%.

With this arrangement, in the normal position, Figure l of the switch el., four ot the terminals are bridged by said switch in such manner thatI the subscribers telephone 10 is connected to the exchange 14 and the alarm contacts 7 are switched vout of circuit. On the other hand, when thealarm contacts 7 are switched into circuit by a movement of the switch 4 into its second position, Fig'- ures 2 andB, the subscribers telephone lO is switched out oit circuit with the exchange 14C but said contacts are in direct electrical connection with the latter. The switch Ll is secured on a wall or other suitable support in the subscribers prem'scs in a position likely to be inaccessible to or not easily discovered by a` burglar.

A suitable arrangement would be made lwith the authorities ot the telephone exchange,iire or other station, as tothe conditions under which they will cooperate in the operation `ot the alarm system. ln the event ot' a successful attempt at entry :nto a telephone subscribers premises, the alarm contacts at a door, window, safe or other position would come into operation immedt ately, i. e., the exchange apparatus would be actuated in the same manner as iit the subscribers'telephone had been used, and the exchange operator would telephone immediately to the police, obtaining' the address et the subscribers premises from the ol'iicial list, or, alternatively, from the switch board itself, where the address of each subscriber at whose premises the alarm device was fitted could be recorded.

In a modified arrangement illustrated in Figure 4; a two-position, six-pole, main centrol switch 4lis employed, and two el: the terminals, 5 and 6, t-heree'l are indrectly connected to a pair ot bridging;i contacts le. and 17, two other terminals, 5% and 9, are connected to the subscribei"s telephone instrument 10 on the premises, and the other two terminals, 11 and 12, to the main lines 13 to the telephone exchange. An electric buzzer or other interrupter, trembler or sip,-- nalling device 1S is interposed in the circuit between the switch +iaud the two brit! L contacts 16 and 17. A primary and separate circuit 19 is pro-vided and includes an clertro-magnet 20 and armature 21, a. battery 22 or other source of supply et current, and a pair of electrical. alarm contacts 7 fitted at a door, window. sate er other suitable position it is desired to guard on the premises.

lilith this arrangement, in the normal position of the switch l, shown in full lines in the drawing, four of the terminals, 8, 11, 12 and 9, are bridged by said switch in such manner that the subscribers telephone i() is connected to the exchange and t-he alarm contacts 7 are rendered inoperative as tar as the exchange is concerned. @n the other hand, by a movement oi the switch 4linto its second position, shown in dotted lines, the subscribers telephone 1() is switched out oi' circuit with the exchange, but the alarm contracts 7 can effect the exchange circuit in the manner hereinafter described. The switch t is, as before, secured on a. wall or other suitable support in the `subscribeiis premises in a position lilely to be inaccessible to or not easily discovered by a burglar.

Here again, a suitable arrangement woult be made with the authorities of the telephone exchange, lire or other station as to the conditions under which hey will cooperate in t-he operation of the alarm system. The exchange operator would immediately communicate by telephone with the police, `tire or other station when an alarm signal on any of the circuits of the telephone subscribers, at whose premises the alarm device is fitted, actuated the exchange apparatus in the manner lhereinafter specified.

Assuming the switch l to be in the position indicated by dotted lines in Figure 4i, in the event of an attempt to enter a telephone subscribers premises or to open a safe, the ala-rm contacts 7 at the door, window, safe or other position would come into operation immediately and cause the battery 22 to energize the electro-magnet 2O through a terminal bloclr23, the armature 21, a spring 2li', a terminal post 25 and the circuit 19. The electro-magnet attracts the armature 21 and allows a switch arm 26 to drop off said armature on to the contact 17, so

that a shunt circuit 27 is closed through a battery 28, the contact and pivot or hinge 16 oic the arm 26, said arm, the Contact 17 and the terminals 29 ot an electric motor, electro-magnet and ratchet, or other deyice adapted to continually drive a spindle 3i); the arin 26 is insulated trom the armature by iusulationat 31. rlhe attraction oit the armature 21 by theelectro-magnet 2O allows a second switch arm 32, (normally insulated 'from said armature by insulation on the upper edge of the lat-ter at to drop off the armature and so that its free end rests in contact with the adjacent side *face of the armature. 1n this manner theV armature li locked in its attracted position by the Switch arm Bil and the signalling device 1S switched into direct connection with the telephone exchange through the circuit Sie, the switch arm the armature 2l. the terminal bleclr. 23, the main switch and the main telephone lines 13. The sig nailing' device 1S indicated in the drawingl consists oi a rotary disc or drum 35 mounted on` the spindle '30 and carrying segmental conductors 36 which gire a continually interrupt-ed circuit and a distinctive intermittent signal at the exchange, such as the letter D in the Morse code. This signalling continues until the main switch 4 or the armature 21 or both, and the switch arms 32 and 26 are each returned to normal position shown in the drawing, and this by the police, the subscriber or some other person on the premises; in this manner the operations of the alarm and signalling devices are quite independent of control by the exchange operator. Immediately the armature 21 moves towards the electro-magnet 20, vand is locked in this position by the switch-arm 32 as above described, the spring 24 is carried out of contact w-ith the terminal screw 37 and thus breaks the circuit 19 and avoids running out of the battery 22.

Thus, the action of the signalling device would operate the exchange apparat-us in a special manner known by the operator, who would immediately telephone to the police after having ascertained the address of the subscribers premises from thc official list, or, alternatively, from the switch board itself, where the address of each subscriber at whose premises the alarm device was fitted could be recorded. Alternatively, the police, fire or other station could be provided with a list of the addresses of subscribers premises at which the alarm system is fitted.

It will be appreciated that the buzzer or other signalling device 18 would obviate possible mistakes through short-circuiting in the telephone system or through any other cause, in that it would give a signal at the exchange which can be easily distinguished from other signals transmitted, such as by short-circuiting. The interrupter or other signalling device would also prevent mistakes being made if the subscribers premises were closed earlier or later than usual. rIhe type of signalling device employed, and its method of operation, can vary within wide limits.

Any other suitable form of electrical or mechanical automatic circuit closer may be substituted for the electro-magnet 20 and armature 21 above referred to.

If desired, and especially in the case of lock-up premises, the circuitI through the alarm contacts or devices T'may be controlled by a switch operable from the main or front entrance of said premises. This switch could be constructed on the principle of a permutation lock and thus be carried by the door or door frame and be actuated according to a code; in this manner the circuit could be closed, (except, of course, through the alarm contacts or devices), by an authorized person when locking up the premises, and be opened again when he or she returns.

No matter what type of telephone exchange system is in use, including the automatic and magneto systems, the alarm system can be efficiently operated..

One of the most advantageous features of the system is vthat it is secret and could give no warning to a burglar that his entry had set in operation an alarm to the police. Another satisfactory feature is that the alarm is instantaneous, being simultaneous with the opening of the door, window, safe or the like; within a minute of a burglars entry into the premises, the local police would be aware of the attempted burglary, and of its exact locality.

In the case of telephone users, such doctors and others, who wish to be in constant communication with the telephone exchange, there may be two alternatives (1) a second exchange line, (2) an extension telephone connected to the two exchange line terminals 8 and 9 of the main switch 4.

Although the invention has been particularly described as applicable to burglar alarms, it will be appreciated that it is equally adaptable for notifying to the telephone exchange an out-break of iire .in any house, office or other premises controlled by said exchange. For this purpose, it would only be necessary to substitute for the burglar alarm contacts any known or suitable devices adapted to be actuated to close an electric circuit when rendered operative by heat.

t is necessary to provide means to prevent operation of the circuit 16, 17, 26, 27, 28 and 29 of Figure 4 when the control switch is in its telephone7 position, full lines in the drawing, and when the alarm contacts 7 are operated as by the opening and closing of a door. For this purpose a normally open break is provided in the circuit 19 containing the alarm contacts 7, and said break can be provided between two contacts 4() and 4l, which contacts are adapted to be bridged by a member 42 carried by and insulated from the. switch 4, such bridging taking place when the switch is in its alarm contacts position, dotted lines in the drawing. In a modified arrangement the circuit 19 could be normally opened by a separate switch.

That I claim is l. A device of the class described comprising a telephone line having terminals. a telephone, a switch for said terminals, an alarm system including an interrupter, sa id switch being adapted to connect said alarm system with said telephone line by contacting with some of said terminals and simultaneously disconnect said telephone from said line.

2. A device of the class described comprising a telephone line having terminals, a telephone, a switch for said terminals, an alarm system including an interrupter, said switch being adapted to connect said alarm system with said telephone line by contacting with some of said terminals and simultaneously disconnect said telephone from said line, -said instrument including a eommutator, arranged to give distinct code signals.

3. A device of the class described comprise infr a teiephone line lia-ying' terminals, a

terminals, said circuit including' electromagnets, an armature therefor and means to actuate said commutator released by the armature.

L A device of the class described comprising a telephone line` a telephone, a switch,

said switch when in one po on, connectingr said telephone with said teiephone line; a shunt line including a commutator, said shunt line beingT connected with said telephone line when the switch is in another position; a battery circuit including alarm contacts, an electromagnet, an armature therefor, said liiattery circuit being' adapted l to be closed by the switch in open position; a second battery circuit including` a motor for said commutator, a gap in said second battery circuit, a bridging' member for said gap held, normally, in open position by said armature and adapted to be released for closing said gap when said alarm contacts are connected.

5. A device of the class described comprising)- a telephone line having a set of pairs of terminals, a telephone, a six pole switch for said terminals, an alarm system including an interrupter, said switch being adapted to connect said alarm system with said telephone line by contacting with a pair of said terminals and simultaneously disconnect the terminals of said telephone.

6. A device of the class described comprisinga telephone line, a set of pairs of terminals, a telephone with conductors attached to one pair of said terminals, a switch for said terminals, an alarm system including a code signaling intrument and conductors attached to a. second pair of said terminals, said switch being adapted to connect said alarm system with said telephone line by contacting with' said second pair of terminals and simultaneously disconnect said first pair of terminals from said line,vsaid instrunient including an interrup'ler arranged to give distinct code signals; alarm contacts and a circuit therefor conected vwith a third pair of lsaid terminals, said circuit including electromagnetsr` an armature there for and means to actuate Said interrupter when released by the armature.

ln testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name.

SYDNEY GEORGE ADAMS. 

